What do chickens eat? The foods you should be feeding to your backyard flock - and some you should steer clear of.

Confused about which foods your chickens should eat at different points in their life?

You're not alone.

I remember being completely confused about their nutritional needs when I was first starting out with my backyard chickens, so I wrote these pages in the hope that they would help prevent you from being as confused as I was, and to keep you abreast of any developments in research and experience.

They'll take you through the best nutrition for your flock at all the key points in their life from newly hatched to adult breeding hens and beyond.

Just click on either the headline or the pic for each different subject to go straight to that page.

Do you find yourself getting confused as to what your chickens should eat and at what age? I certainly was. Chick feed, growers, layers, crumbles, pellets ... What does it all mean?

Hens and roosters need different nutrients at different times in their life, and feeding the wrong balance can seriously affect their health.

This link takes you to an article describing the food a chick should eat from point of hatch right through to adulthood. It takes the mystery out of feeding and lets you relax and enjoy your flock without worrying about their diet.

Did you know that grit and oyster shell are both critical to your chickens' health? Do you know why?

When I first began keeping poultry I was completely confused about these supplements. Were they the same? If I gave one did I still need to give the other? What would happen if my flock didn't eat therm? Did I need to give the same to roosters as to hens? And what about chicks?

This section is written to answer those questions for you as simply as possible so that you have a clear idea of what supplements should be given, when.

When should your flock eat high protein foods? What's its nutritional value? Which high protein foods are good for your hens? How much should they get? And why is it possible to "kill them with kindness"?

My list of ten high protein treats comes from proven research about the most effective ways of helping chickens through the hard times in life as well as my own and my flock's experiences of what works and what doesn't.

If you're wondering about any of these questions, you'll find the answers on this page.

So you know which foods your hens should eat - but do you have any idea about those which could prove fatal to them?

There aren't many foods which could potentially kill your flock, but these five could - and they are commonly available. It's not obvious that they're toxic, either. It would be very easy for you to give flock these foods without realising the harm you're doing.

Don't risk letting your hens eat anything poisonous. Click on this link to find out what you should be avoiding at all costs.

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This is me! - Certified in chicken welfare & behaviour

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